Difference between Thoughtful and Pensive

THOUGHTFUL vs PENSIVE: ADJECTIVE

Full of thought; employed in meditation; contemplative.
Engrossed in thought.
Given to careful thought; reflective.
Taking heed; giving close and thoughtful attention
Showing consideration and anticipation of needs
Acting with or showing thought and good sense
Exhibiting or characterized by careful thought
Having or showing heed for the well-being or happiness of others and a propensity for anticipating their needs or wishes.
Attentive; careful; exercising the judgment; having the mind directed to an object.
Having intellectual depth
Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.
Demonstrating kindness or consideration for others.
Considerate of the feelings or well-being of others
Anxious; solicitous; concerned.

Showing pensive sadness
Persistently or morbidly thoughtful
Engaged in deep and serious thought.
Showing or expressing deep, often melancholy thought.
Thoughtful, sober, or sad; employed in serious reflection; given to, or favorable to, earnest or melancholy musing.
Expressing or suggesting thoughtfulness with sadness.
Having the appearance of deep, often melancholic, thinking.
Looking thoughtful, especially from sadness.
Deeply or seriously thoughtful

Considerate, regardful.
Synonyms Reflective, pensive, studious.
Full of care; anxious; troubled.
Showing regard or consideration for others; benevolent; considerate; kindly.
Mindful, as to something specified; heedful; careful: followed by of or an infinitive.
Taking heed
Characterized by or manifesting thought; pertaining to thought; concerned with or dedicated to thought.
Occupied with thought; engaged in or disposed to reflection; contemplative; meditative.

Synonyms Meditative, reflective, sober.
Expressing thoughtfulness with sadness; betokening or conducive to thoughtful or earnest musing.
Engaged in serious thought or reflection; given to earnest musing: often implying some degree of anxiety, depression, or gloom; thoughtful and somewhat melancholy.

Thinking, Serious, Meditative, Kind, Deliberate, Reflective, Pensive, Ruminative, Profound, Deliberative, Attentive, Reasoned, Contemplative, Sensible, Considerate

Introspective, Melancholy, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, Pondering, Sad, Musing, Reflective, Broody, Thoughtful, Meditative, Ruminative, Brooding, Contemplative, Wistful

Heedful, Serious, Meditative, Kind, Deliberate, Reflective, Pensive, Ruminative, Profound, Deliberative, Attentive, Reasoned, Contemplative, Sensible, Considerate

Introspective, Melancholy, Melancholic, Phlegmatic, Pondering, Sad, Musing, Reflective, Broody, Thoughtful, Meditative, Ruminative, Brooding, Contemplative, Wistful

Pensive Face, but with a sadder, more hurt expression.
Image: Pensive young woman holding smart phone at workplace.
Proctor, is engaged in pensive selfreflection regarding his life.
Len nodded, his own expression calmer, more pensive.
Now Tom could see his face: pensive, withdrawn.
Fr: My leasure serves me pensive daughter now.
But why so pensive, my good master Fox?
The Governor General found him pensive and sad.
The audience will long remember that pensive night.
It can also refer to any pensive or reflective poem that is nostalgic or melancholy, or to a short, pensive musical composition.